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Sanjeev Kumar (Actor) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth9 July 1938

Age47 (at time of death)

BirthplaceSurat, Bombay Presidency, British India (present-day Gujarat, India)

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Jethlal Jariwala; Mother - Zaverben Jethalal Jariwala; Brothers - Kishore Jariwala, Nakul Jariwala; Sister - Leela Jariwala

Sanjeev Kumar (Actor) Biography

Sanjeev Kumar, born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala, was an Indian actor celebrated for his versatility and memorable performances in Hindi cinema. Active from 0

Early life and background

Harihar Jethalal Jariwala was born on 9 July 1938 in Surat, then part of the Bombay Presidency in British India. He was known by the nickname Haribhai and later adopted the screen name Sanjeev Kumar during his days with the Indian National Theatre in Bombay. He left his Gujarati-medium school and trained under writer-director P. D. Shenoy, developing a strong foundation in theatre where he took on roles that often exceeded his years.

Career

Sanjeev Kumar moved from stage to screen, making his film debut in Hum Hindustani (1960) as a police inspector. A breakthrough lead role came with Raja Aur Runk (1968), which brought him wider recognition. Over the next decade and a half he built a reputation for tackling diverse and challenging parts, including a celebrated portrayal in Koshish (1973), which he later cited as one of his best performances.

Kumar collaborated frequently with director Gulzar across several notable films, including Parichay (1972), Koshish (1972), Aandhi (1975), Mausam (1975), Namkeen (1982), Angoor (1982) and others. In Naya Din Nai Raat (1974) he took on the demanding task of playing nine distinct characters. His role as Thakur Baldev Singh in the landmark film Sholay (1975) is among the parts for which he is widely remembered.

Across his career he won major awards, including the National Film Award for Best Actor for Dastak (1971) and Koshish (1973). He also received multiple Filmfare Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Shikar (1969) and Best Actor awards for Aandhi (1976) and Arjun Pandit (1977).

He continued acting through the 1970s and early 1980s in a range of genres, often taking roles that required emotional depth and versatility. Several of his films were released after his death; the last listed posthumous release is Professor Ki Padosan (1993).

Public profile

Sanjeev Kumar was regarded as one of the noted actors of his era, praised for his commitment to character and willingness to experiment. He was known to enjoy the social life of the film community and was fond of food and nocturnal gatherings with peers. Despite financial ups and downs described by contemporaries, he remained closely linked to the theatre and film circles that had shaped his early career.

His family background included parents Jethlal and Zaverben Jethalal Jariwala, and siblings active in the arts and film industry: brothers Kishore Jariwala, a music director, and Nakul Jariwala, a film producer, and a sister, Leela Jariwala, who acted.

Personal and later life

Sanjeev Kumar remained unmarried. Health issues ran in his family, and he suffered from heart problems during his life. He died of myocardial infarction on 6 November 1985 in Bombay (now Mumbai) at the age of 47. After his passing several films featuring him were released.

Legacy and remembrance

His contributions to Hindi cinema are remembered through his varied body of work and by honours such as awards he received during his career. In his native Surat a road was named Sanjeev Kumar Marg, inaugurated by Sunil Dutt. An NGO bearing his name in Surat works with underprivileged children, continuing aspects of his public memory.

Latest updates

Posthumous releases continued to appear after his death; Professor Ki Padosan is cited as a later release in 1993. His standing as a versatile actor and collaborator with filmmakers like Gulzar remains frequently referenced in retrospectives of Indian cinema.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Sanjeev Kumar (Actor), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Professor Ki Padosan

Listed as a posthumous release featuring Sanjeev Kumar in the role of Professor Vidhyadhar.

1993
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut in Hum Hindustani (1960) as a police inspector
  2. Breakthrough lead role in Raja Aur Runk (1968)
  3. National Film Award for Best Actor for Dastak (1971) and Koshish (1973)
  4. Filmfare Best Supporting Actor for Shikar (1969) and Best Actor for Aandhi (1976) and Arjun Pandit (1977)
  5. Notable role as Thakur Baldev Singh in Sholay (1975)
  6. Portrayed nine characters in Naya Din Nai Raat (1974)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sanjeev Kumar (Actor) born?

Sanjeev Kumar (Actor) was born on 9 July 1938.

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Sanjeev Kumar (Actor) is known for actor.

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Sanjeev Kumar (Actor)'s marital status is listed as Unmarried.